I have fallen foul of the 8506,421 debacle and have seen many references to removing NIS2013 and reverting back to 2012.
So I downloaded the Norton Removal Tool 20.0.0.21 and NIS2012 installer, remover NIS using Control Panel and rebooted. Then I ran the tool, which promptly reported that it can remove NIS versions 2003 through 2012. WHAT? With the problems Norton are having with 2013 we can’t even rely on NRT to get rid of the pox ridden product.
Symantec, can’t you get your act together? I have a business to run and can’t afford to be withoit a reliable PC. Now I paid you to prevent nasty software from disabling my PC, not to get it provided by you. Most unhappy…
Hi msjbeard
I would like to suggest redoing what you have already done and start with the link below as it provides various links to the product to be removed please read the instructions carefully and possibly downloading a new NRT and running it again or running the NRT you have again as in the past it was recommended that it be run twice.
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20080710133834EN_EndUserProfile_en_
ATB
intesec
us
Did you actually try to use the Norton Removal Tool you downloaded? Sometimes instruction documents don't manage to keep up with reality.
I don't know where you downloaded the Norton Removal Tool 2013 from but links I have now don't give a date to the tool nor make reference to the dates of the Norton products since they no longer are dated but use Version IDs.
Try this link
and work on from there.
If internal instructions as you go refer to 2012 as if it were a limit you can ignore that since to the best of my knowledge there is no problem in removing the current version with the Norton Removal Tool currently available.
Don't try the link intesec gives since when I tried it it got to a Document not available screen.
intesec,
Did you try the link you give before posting it ?
I get
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20080710133834EN_EndUserProfile_en_
The document you are looking for is currently unavailable. To find solutions, use the search box at the top of this page.
Hi msjbeard
My apologies for the link not taking you to the correct page.
Hi huwyngr
Well-spotted huwyngr and thanks for posting. I didn’t check it as I got the page up and copied the URL directly into the page I was writing on, I’ll keep an eye on it from now on. Can you please check this type, removal tool, into the top RHS search box on the NIS forum page, click on the second link and copy the URL, I get the same thing again, but the page that is there looks like the page from your link? When I copy the URL after clicking on your link I get the right URL.
ATB
intesec
Krusty, that's why you and the others, are GURUS, and some are not ! ! 
Krusty13 wrote:Actually, the recommended link to the Norton Removal Tool is www.norton.com/nrt
Cheers.
How is that link better than the one Hugh provided in message 3 of this thread?
My link doesn't change over time where Hugh's may.
intesec
Thanks for that, but I could run it a thousand times and still not get rid of a version the NRT doesn’t claim to remove. Nevertheless, I will run it again as you suggest.
huwyngr
Yes I did. The version coverage is presented when you run the software, not when you download it. Although you’re not aware that NRT leaves 2013 remnants behind, there are numerous community references to 8506,421 recurring after reverting to 2012. I can’t afford to keep losing internet access and AV protection, and spending a couple hours removing and reinstalling NIS.
Krusty13
That’s where I got NRT.
F4E
Er, are you a Norton software engineer by any chance? 
I wonder, does anyone know what Symantec are doing to resolve 8506,421, if anything? It’s been going on for months. It looks like it’s providing so much grief to paying customers that it could kill off market appetite for chargeable malware protection.
intesec
So, I did as you suggest and ran NRT a second time, restarted and then installed NIS2012. As soon as it tried to activate it fell over again, with Error 8505,129.
Clearly folks NIS2013 makes some catastrophic change which neither uninstalling nor running NRT can fix. I am left with a PC incapable of running the software I have paid for.
Which alternative malware protection product would anyone recommend?
Hi msjbeard
Thanks for trying my suggestion. The next suggestion I have, I have no idea if it will work, its using an uninstall programme called revo the link is below. When selecting the type of uninstall there are different options.
It needs a programme to uninstall and then can provide a long list in some cases of check boxes that need careful examination, it shows what boxes you need to check, its doing this to get the user to buy the pro version.
The problem is that you have had 2012 and 2013 versions of Norton on the system, running the NRT should deal with the 2012 version, so you may only need to do the below steps for 2013. After uninstalling NIS 2012 using the windows add/remove programme, restart the computer, run the NRT, restart the computer, install NIS 2013, restart the computer, run revo, restart the computer, install NIS 2012, restart the computer and hopefully get updates.
Norton is my first choice but as you have no joy with Norton my second option would be ESET it can need a little tweaking. I wouldn’t recommend the free security software other than for additional on demand scanners. A thought I have is the debris that the NRT can’t seem to deal with from NIS 2013 may affect future installations of security software.
You might like to backup your personal data before doing the above.
For the free version bottom of the page third button up LHS button.
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
ATB
intesec
Try this:
- Uninstall the program through add / remove
- Reboot the PC
- Run the Norton Removal Tool
- Reboot PC
- Run Norton Removal Tool
- Reboot PC
- Go to C:\programdata and delete the "Norton" and "NortonInstaller" folders.
- Reboot PC
- Install the desired Norton program.
Note that Revo Uninstaller is not a cleanup tool but as it says an uninstaller. It is very good if you use it sensibly and pay attention to what it lists.
BUT It probably won't work if you have partially uninstalled or to clean up after a normal uninstall since in my experience nothing shows up in the program listing to use to start the operation.
I've never mastered the Hunter Mode which I thought would be designed to hunt down orphaned bits of programs so I can't say if that would be better.
msjbeard wrote:
intesec
So, I did as you suggest and ran NRT a second time, restarted and then installed NIS2012. As soon as it tried to activate it fell over again, with Error 8505,129.
You first questons was in regards to 8506,421 - have you done step 2 in these instructions? If so what were the results?
Now you are saying you are backon NIS 2012 and receiving 8509,129, which indicates an inability to activate or subscription snyc error - either of whichi maybe caused by a umber of cuircumstances. The most common of which - is you system tmie, time zone and date correct?
First of all, to all of you who have taken trouble to post suggestions, a big Thank You!
Now let me tell you how I got on...
I found a tool called Norton Power Eraser, and initially thought that this was a tool for removing Norton products, but it is not. It's a powerful stand-alone malware removal tool. It's available at http://security.symantec.com/nbrt/npe.aspx.
I ran the Norton Removal Tool twice, as intesec recommended, rebooting as the tool required. Then I enabled Windows Firewall, hooked up to the Internet, downloaded Norton Power Eraser as above then disconnected from the internet. I ran this tool and selected Scan for Risks. The program required a restart before and after running. The results are shown in the image below and were that it found four causes of concern: two infected files, one bad registry entry and one file for which it didn't recognise. (This last is a specialist electronics CAD application and I have plenty of history using this without problems). I clicked Fix, the program removed the three confirmed problems.
The second file listed is an installation file for a programmer's editor which I use frequently, and installed about a year ago. I have now found reports of trojan infection in deliberately misleading ads which look like to genuine product download link. The infected file must have been passed by NIS at the time, and only caused a problem with the NIS2013 update which took place yesterday.
I have now re-installed NIS 2012, (still don't trust the 2013 version) and so far it's working fine. Time will tell, and it it's still okay after a few days, then this would seem to be a successful workaround. Next thing is to get NIS2013 off all the other PCs I manage...
msjbeard wrote....... F4E
Er, are you a Norton software engineer by any chance? ;-)
Um, NO. Just a MOSTLY satisfied customer of 12 years, or so.....
Hi msjbeard,
Glad it appears to be sorted out and you are welcome for the assist - however I am wondering about your "I found a tool called Norton Power Eraser. Did you clickon the link in my post above?
"You first questons was in regards to 8506,421 - have you done step 2 in these instructions? If so what were the results?"
Step 2 is the NPE. Just thinkiing it may have saved you some looking. Please be sure to go into Settings - Computer - Updates and turn off the option for Automatic Download of new version. This will assist in not permitting the 2013 product from downloading.
Ah yes, I found and ran NPE prior to receiving and reading your message, and confirm it's the same fix. Thanks :-)